Data released recently by the Ministry of Commerce in Kampuchea show that Kampuchea's export volume to us clothing has shrunk since the end of last year.

Data show that in the fourth quarter of 2007, Kampuchea's clothing exports to the United States amounted to US $352 million, down 30% from the same period last year.

The figure for the first quarter of this year was $500 million, down 1.44% from the same period last year.

The United States has always been the largest overseas market of Kampuchea's garment manufacturing industry.

Meanwhile, Kampuchea's exports to Europe and Canada have been in good growth since 2003 due to the depreciation of the US dollar, rising production costs in China and more attention from the substitutes producing countries.

Overall, the total export volume of clothing in Kampuchea in the first quarter of this year increased by 4.78% compared with last year.

Over the past decade or so, garment manufacturing has always been the pillar industry in Kampuchea, and its exports account for more than 70% of Kampuchea's total exports during the peak period.